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Recipe for Relief (AKA Anapestic Tetrameter Practice)
There’s an itch in my side or the side of my brain
for the many passed days without rhyming refrain
So I’ve sat down today to correct and amend
by the balm of writ scratch to apply and append
It’s the niggling-est nut or the pokiest prod
which applies to the times when survival plays god
When said kernel, once rutted, leaves proof at the scene
clear relief may be found in some rhyme-histamine
Such queer folly most lowly holds purpose quite small
yet looms large in response to necessity’s call
It is mine to provide, sputtered forth with a plea
that all efforts attempted might not cause melee
In quite typical quatrain these lines do unfold
with clear wandering thoughts leaving process un-bold
sweet relief, for the moment, comes fore to abide
while a wish for ‘good day’ sidles in by its side
(Here it is again with the stressed syllables in all caps)
There’s an ITCH in my SIDE or the SIDE of my BRAIN
for the MANy passed DAYS without RHYMing reFRAIN
So I’ve SAT down toDAY to corRECT and aMEND
by the BALM of writ SCRATCH to apPLY and apPEND
It’s the NIGGling-est NUT or the POKiest PROD
which apPLIES to the TIMES when surVIval plays GOD
When said KERNel, once RUTted, leaves PROOF at the SCENE
clear reLIEF may be FOUND in some RHYME-histaMINE
Such queer FOLly most LOWly holds PURpose quite SMALL
yet looms LARGE in reSPONSE to neCESsity’s CALL
It is MINE to proVIDE, sputtered FORTH with a PLEA
that all EFforts atTEMPTed might NOT cause meLEE
In quite TYPical QUAtrain these LINES do unFOLD
with clear WANdering THOUGHTS leaving PROcess un-BOLD
sweet reLIEF, for the MOment, comes FORE to aBIDE
while a WISH for ‘good DAY’ sidles IN by its SIDE
©RhymeLovingWriter 2016
There’s an itch in my side or the side of my brain
for the many passed days without rhyming refrain
So I’ve sat down today to correct and amend
by the balm of writ scratch to apply and append
It’s the niggling-est nut or the pokiest prod
which applies to the times when survival plays god
When said kernel, once rutted, leaves proof at the scene
clear relief may be found in some rhyme-histamine
Such queer folly most lowly holds purpose quite small
yet looms large in response to necessity’s call
It is mine to provide, sputtered forth with a plea
that all efforts attempted might not cause melee
In quite typical quatrain these lines do unfold
with clear wandering thoughts leaving process un-bold
sweet relief, for the moment, comes fore to abide
while a wish for ‘good day’ sidles in by its side
(Here it is again with the stressed syllables in all caps)
There’s an ITCH in my SIDE or the SIDE of my BRAIN
for the MANy passed DAYS without RHYMing reFRAIN
So I’ve SAT down toDAY to corRECT and aMEND
by the BALM of writ SCRATCH to apPLY and apPEND
It’s the NIGGling-est NUT or the POKiest PROD
which apPLIES to the TIMES when surVIval plays GOD
When said KERNel, once RUTted, leaves PROOF at the SCENE
clear reLIEF may be FOUND in some RHYME-histaMINE
Such queer FOLly most LOWly holds PURpose quite SMALL
yet looms LARGE in reSPONSE to neCESsity’s CALL
It is MINE to proVIDE, sputtered FORTH with a PLEA
that all EFforts atTEMPTed might NOT cause meLEE
In quite TYPical QUAtrain these LINES do unFOLD
with clear WANdering THOUGHTS leaving PROcess un-BOLD
sweet reLIEF, for the MOment, comes FORE to aBIDE
while a WISH for ‘good DAY’ sidles IN by its SIDE
©RhymeLovingWriter 2016
Note: I hope the bolded syllables don't bother too much, but it is my attempt to show how I follow meter when writing rhyme. I sometimes do this exercise before I post a strictly metered piece to double-check myself as to emphasis. Then again, it's also a(n) habitual practice of mine to use variance. Here is a site with a very simplified explanation of the types and names of meter and variances:
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